
Our Story
In more developed countries, governments work to support those individuals who are disadvantaged by disability, neglect, abuse or poverty and provide them and their families with financial, housing, respite, educational and medical support. In Peru, the government chooses not to provide this support to the same extent and so the lives of those who are born disabled or become disabled through injury or have developmental issues or other medical syndromes can be miserable and hopeless. The lack of education and awareness of potential support often means these children and adult are either hidden from the world, abandoned, become street dwellers or remain with a condition that in another country would be cured.
Asociacion Yanapasun works with the community in and around Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of Peru, to provide support for local people affected in these ways to give them an opportunity to have a life with dignity, hope and without fear. The money donated provides a safe place to work (the therapy center) with a small team of dedicated paid professional staff. All volunteers who come to work for us are either professionally qualified and/or have experience relevant to supporting our patients, their families and local staff. Donations are also used to ensure the center has equipment to provide professional and safe services to all of our patients. We also have initiatives where donations are used as a capital to improve the homes of certain evaluated families that will provide a more hygienic and practical environment for living with someone affected by disability.
How It All Started
The founding members, Maggie Glastonbury and Henna Toivanen both have experience of working with disabled and special needs children and adults whilst volunteering in Urubamba and other projects in and around Cusco. Whilst they both know that some support is available for example a school for disabled children and a section in the local municipality office for the employment of a few disabled adults, they could see a need for therapy and supporting services.
In 2015, they had set up a therapy center on behalf of another charity which some 12 months later made the decision to close the service. Consequently in September 2016 Maggie and Henna decided to re-open the therapy center as Asociacion Yanapasun and restart the loving and caring professional therapy services that are so urgently and crucially needed to help support a demographic of people that don’t have any other options available to them.
Our Objectives
To Offer
Professional therapies such as physiotherapy, early stimulation, speech therapy, psychology and social support to the families of local communities in and around Urubamba who are affected by disability, slow development, clinical syndromes and trauma with the aim of helping the patient to reach their maximum potential.
To Help
Raise awareness within the community of living with a person affected by such conditions and to educate primary carers and family members on how to support them by receiving training within the centre from our team of employed local professionals supported by international collaboration from professionally trained and experienced volunteers.
To Be Guided
By our values of multicultural harmony whilst maintaining integrity, transparency and truthfulness.
Vision
To provide therapies, care, guidance and support to those affected by disability, slow development, clinical syndromes and trauma including educational training for both the patient and their family/primary care giver.
Mission Statement
To create a positive, loving, professional and complete service for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults by working in partnership with families and other support organisations to provide the most appropriate services in a caring and compassionate manner.
Our Values
Respect | Honesty | Tolerance | Integrity | Sincerity | Equality | Inclusion
Meet the Team

Maggie
Yanapsun and Sunrise CIO founder

Henna
Yanapasun co-founder and project manager

Oscar
Physiotherapist

Liset
Physiotherapist

Rosmery
Speech Therapist

Melissa
Early stimulation Teacher

Carmen
Early stimulation Teacher

Luciano
Psychologist

Vilma
General maintenance and help with the children

Miriam Alvarez
Physiotherapist
Miriam is our newest Physiotherapist that joined our team in 2019 and works in Physiotherapy in the afternoons mostly with adults.